All Articles 2018 Archives

Christmas Ends Where It Begins

by Phillip Morrison · Matthew 2:1-23

Phillip Morrison reminds us that the Magi, the Wise Men, came later on after Jesus was older; but rather than this putting a damper on our Christmas, we need to use this truth to extend our Christmas past the first of the year.

12 days of Christmas are not about calling birds and lords a leaping, but about an extended celebration of Christmas.

What I Don't Remember about Christmas

by · John 1:10-11 · Christmas

Jordan shares this powerful post that was highlighted on The Today Show with our Heartlight.org audience.

Jesus picked this beginning because he knew our idols would someday reek of perfectionism and opulence, of measuring up and looking the part, of vanity.

A Labor of Love

by Phil Ware · Luke 1 · Jesus · Christmas · Incarnation

Phil Ware shares some thoughts on what incarnation means as the collision of mortality and eternal, God in human flesh.

Jesus' birth was the collision of the gloriously divine and mundanely human. It was God entering our world through the birth canal of a woman.

Far Beyond the Monotony of Low Expectations

by Phil Ware · Luke 1 · Jesus · Christmas · Advent

Phil Ware reminds us to celebrate Advent and not simply settle for Christmas.

Advent is rooted in the work of God in history through real people to do the miraculous in the most human of things, the birth of a child.

Prepare Him Room

by Phil Ware · Mark 1:1-6 · Christmas · Advent

Phil Ware shares how Mark's gospel, which doesn't even mention the birth of Jesus, fits into the Advent season.

'Prepare Him room': Inviting Jesus to reign in our hearts is how the strange beginning of the Gospel of Mark fits into the Advent season.

More than the Outskirts of His Ways

by James Nored & Phil Ware · Hebrews 1:1-3 · Incarnation

Phil Ware and James Nored share in word and video an idea about how we can truly understand God's greatness, glory, and grace even though we cannot understand everything about him.

If there is a God and he's out there, why doesn't he just get it over with and show himself to us? Why this need for faith?

Little Miracles

by Dennis Downing · Psalm 77

Dennis Downing writes about Church on the Streets and a special morning worship service when the minister receives the ministry of the people he came to serve.

How a bunch of poor, but precious homeless people minister to their minister in Brazil.

How Full Is Your Gift Sack?

by Phil Ware · Philippians 2:5-11

Phil Ware asks us to remember all the people who joined Jesus at his birth and challenges us to believe that these are exactly the kind of people Jesus came to redeem -- people just like us!

Most of us only hoped to get enough of these seasons’ “givings” in our sacks not to be embarrassed, humiliated and marked as a less than desirable.

Jesus Came to Be One of Us!

by James Nored & Phil Ware · John 1:1-18 · Jesus · Christmas · Incarnation

James and Phil continue their series on The Story of Redemption by focusing on the birth of Jesus and what it means for us.

We desperately need to push past the glitz of the season and remember the gritty grace of the manger and the glory of God incarnate in a helpless baby who came to be one of us!

On Tiptoes with Angels

by Phil Ware · 1 Peter 1:11-12

Phil Ware begins a five-part series on Jesus at Christmas. This week is focused on waiting for Jesus to come.

Christmas, like the coming of Jesus, is about waiting!

Lead with Gentleness

by Tom Norvell · Philippians 4:5

Tom Norvell reminds us that gentleness is essential in today's divided world because we know that Jesus is near.

In a society where parents are overwhelmed, overbooked, overworked, and overstressed, I can be a voice of gentleness!

A Time for Giving Thanks!

by Phil Ware · 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Phil Ware reminds us to give thanks for all of our blessings!

On this day when many pause with their families to give thanks to God, let’s remember what the LORD God has done to bless us!

A Day of Thanksgiving!

by Skye Noe · Psalm 100 · Blessed · Bible · Thanksgiving

How is it that all the Thanksgiving Day’s of my past had come and I had forgotten to actually give thanks? Then I realized just how long of a list I was going to have!

In hard times or times of blessing, we are never without thankfulness

Your Part Is to Trust

by Max Lucado · John 3:16

Max Lucado reminds us that we can believe in Jesus and that Jesus can handle whatever we bring Him.

Don’t believe the voice in your head that says that it’s up to you to do it or to overcome it.

At the End of My Rope

by Phil Ware · Mark 5:21-43 · Fruit of the Spirit · Frustration

Phil Ware reminds us that we can all reach the end of our rope and not know what to do and this is when Jesus can step in and change everything.

We are here to remind each other that we are not forgotten in our struggles of life, fear, and death. We are here to be the heart, hands, and voice of Jesus to the broken.

The Image of God

by Jackie Halstead, Ph.D. · Genesis 1:26-31 · Kindness · Compassion · Image of God

Jackie Halstead reminds us to view people as Jesus did; unique and valuable because each is made in the image of God.

What a beautiful example of the movement from invisibility to humanity! It is so easy to allow the world to slip by as I attend to my very important tasks.

Scales on Our Eyes?

by Phil Ware · Romans 16 · Women

Phil Ware concludes his 14 part series on how God values women and their importance in the life of His people.

We're like the apostle Paul right before he was baptized: we can't see!

Three Questions that Made Me Healthier

by · 3 John 1:2

Jordan Harrell shares some challenges from several years ago after her baby was born and how three questions she needed to answer helped make her healthier in every way.

What I didn’t realize was that my wellness is not just about the food I put inside my body!

A Story That Must Be Told!

by Phil Ware · Mark 14:1-9

Phil Ware continues his series of messages of how Jesus values women, focusing this week on the loving and extravagant gift of the unnamed woman who broke her alabaster jar and anointed Jesus with expensive perfume.

Regardless of our reasons in the past, let’s make sure we honor the Lord’s wishes in this circumstance and others like it.

Living Simply?

by Tom Norvell · 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tom Norvell encourages us not to grow weary in our battle to live simply so we can find true contentment.

The call to live simply and with contentment is not easy. I am not there, but I’m trying.

The Most Excellent Way

by Phil Ware · Matthew 19 · Sexuality

Phil Ware continues his series on how God values women and how precious they are to Him, His people, and the future of humankind, this week focusing on sexual intimacy and value.

Beyond sexual equality to the Jesus way of mutuality and sacrificial love.

Wearing Jesus

by Max Lucado · Romans 12:18 · Jesus

Max Lucado reminds us that when we are baptized, we are clothed with Christ, so what people see in us they attribute to Jesus!

Are you letting this Garment set your style?

Treasures Old and New

by Phil Ware · Acts 2 · Women

Phil Ware continues his series on how the Bible and how God values women and their role in ministry.

This trek of discovery was our great joy in a year of deep sorrow. In the process, each of us discovered treasures old and new.

God Is Not Surprised!

by Tom Norvell · Psalm 139

Tom Norvell reminds us of the truth of David's famous Psalm 139 about God's presence in every twist, turn, and chapter of our lives.

No matter where I go or what happens, God is not surprised, and He will not abandon His own!

Treasure in the Details

by Phil Ware · Romans 16:1-16 · Women

Phil Ware continues his series of reflections on the importance of women in the Bible, the ministry of Jesus, and the early church.